In a powerful address at the President’s Office today, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu delivered a clarion call to journalists across the Maldives, urging them to uphold the principles of truth, neutrality, and national responsibility in their reporting.
Speaking directly to the press, President Muizzu underscored the media’s profound influence in shaping public perception and safeguarding democracy. He stressed that journalism must remain anchored in fact, not fiction — and that the duty of the press is to serve the people, not political interests.
“The highest priority of any journalist should be to present the truth as it is, uncoloured by bias, free from outside influence,” President Muizzu stated. “Factual reporting is not just a professional standard — it is a moral obligation to the nation.”
He expressed concern over the growing trend of sensationalism creeping into Maldivian journalism, where some reporters twist narratives or selectively present information to drive engagement. “This is not what journalism stands for,” he said, adding that cherry-picking facts or amplifying one side of a story for dramatic effect ultimately undermines public trust.
President Muizzu’s comments come at a time when the Maldivian media landscape is increasingly under scrutiny, with rising public demand for responsible reporting in the face of misinformation and politicised narratives.
“We must ensure that our newsrooms are not battlegrounds for political agendas, but strongholds of the truth,” he declared.
The President called on journalists to rigorously fact-check all information and present both sides of every issue, reminding them that public trust is earned through credibility, not popularity.
Dr Muizzu, who has consistently emphasized the importance of institutional integrity and national unity, praised the role of a free press in strengthening democracy — but cautioned that freedom comes with the duty to remain objective and ethical.
As the country heads into a period of intensified political activity, the President’s message serves as a timely reminder: in the Maldives’ pursuit of progress, truth must remain non-negotiable.
